Signal system



w. P. GREGORY.

SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION nuzo' JULY 13. 1921 1,408,190, Patented Feb.28,192 2. F .1.

IIYVEN roP. WILLIAM R GRE'GOPX ATTOPM'Y UNITED STATES WILLIAM P. GREGORY, OF .STQNE' CANON, CALIFORNIA. 4

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed July 13,

Toall whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM P. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stone Canon, in the county of Monterey and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signal Systems, of which-the following isa specification.

This invention relates to a signal system and particularly pertains to a means adapted, to be used in connection with railway block signal systems. It is common practice at the present time to install block signal systems along railway rights of way, these systems. being designed to give a warning signal when a block of the track is in clear. The present arrangement, however, does not provide positive means whereby danger along a bridge, trestle, .or other similar structure would be indicated, and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide means readily incorporated within the present block signal system whereby danger along a bridge or trestle may be positively indicated, even though the rails remain intact.

The present invention further contemplates a fusible joint for signal wires, which joint embodies the use-of a minimum amount of metal between the terminals of the joint, thereby tending to decrease the resistance to the flow of electric current through the wires, as is at present common.

The present invention contemplates the use of a loop of wire, the terminals of which are secured to opposite sides of a break in a railway track, and which loop is carried across a bridge or trestle, or like structure, and returns to the same side of the structure from which it was started, said loop being made up of a plurality of Wires connected by fusible joints, which joints would be affected by an objectionable temperature and would cause the wires to be separated and the flow of current interrupted.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a view in plan showing a simple application of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section and elevation through a bridge or trestle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section and elevation showing a fragmentary portion of the wire used.

Referring more particularly to the draw-- ings, 10 and 11 indicate the rails of a rail- Specification f Letters Patent. P t t d e 23, 19,22

1921. Serial No. 484,284.

way right of way. These rails are interrupted by joints at intervals throughout their length, and in the present case the oints are insulated, as indicated at 12. As

vwill'be understood, the rails carry the cur rent of a block signal system and when interrupted by an insulating barrier, or by the breaking of a rail, the abutting ends of which are separated, will indicate such condition at a signal controlled b the particular block in which this accident has taken place; In the present instance, the interruption of the circuit by the insulating members 12' has been intentional and the electric current is carried across this insulating barrier by signal wires 13 and it, one terminal of each of these wires being connected to a rail, as indicated at 15. The opposite terminal is connected to the continuation ofthis rail on the opposite side of the insulating joint, as indicated at 16. This insulated joint occurs near the end of a'st-ructure, such as a bridge, or trestle, and the length of the wires 13 and 14 are designed to be sufficient to form a loop back and forth across the structure. In the presentinstauce each wire will form parallel lengths across the structure in any mannerdesired,

although here shown as supported uponthe cross ties of the trestle. Interruption of the wire at any point along its length will have the same effect as breaking one of the main rails, or other conditions which Would cause the approximate block signal to indicate danger.

The signal wires 13 and 14 are composed of short lengths of wire 17, as particularly indicated in Fig. 3. These lengths are upset at theirends to provide a flared portion 18. The adjacent flared ends are embedded within. fusible couplings 19. Attention is directed to the fact that the ends of these wires are held substantially in contact by the fusible connection and that a minimum amount of the fusible material will be present between the adjacent ends of the seewhich may be led tions. Due to the manner in which the ends 7 In the operation of the present invention signal rail circuits will be of no consequence, as thecircuit through the rails will not be interrupted but will be caused to make a detour around the insulating joints 12 andthrough the wires 13 and 14. In the event that the bridge burns, or is otherwise torn away, the wires 13 and 14 will be broken, either by heat which would melt the fusible joints, or by excess of tension which would pull some o f the joints apart.

It will thus be seen that by the simple expedient here shown it is possible to provide desirable signal means for use in connection with the usual railway block signal system to indicate danger at a trestle, bridge, or other similar structure, which danger might be brought about by fire, flood, or like disaster. 1

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes might be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 7 cut is:

1. In combination with a railway block system in which electric currents are carried through the track rails,said track extending across a means insulating the contiguous ends of rails of the track at a point near said supporting structure; and a signal wire adapted to be broken by accident to the structure, which wire is looped across the supporting structure, and has its terminal ends secured to the contiguous ends of the rails onthe opposite sides of the insulatedjoint.

2. In combination with a railway block system in which electric currents are carried through the track rails, said track extending across a supporting structure; means insulating the contiguous ends of rails'of the track at a pointnear said supporting structure; a signal wire formed by a plurality of connected sections by excessive tension or by excessive heat, said signal wire being looped across. the supporting structure the opposite sides of the insulated joint. 7 In combination. with a railway block system in which electric circuits are carried by track rails, said rails extending across a Y WILLIAM P. GREGORY.-

and being secured by its terminal ends to the adjacent rails upon supporting structure; l

adapted to be separated 

